Samwise North American Soccer Newsletter
Friday, May 1, 2026
San Jose's Timo Werner Named MLS Player of the Month for April
Timo Werner was named MLS Player of the Month for April, becoming the second German to earn the honor after Nashville's Hany Mukhtar. The San Jose Earthquakes forward tied for the league lead with seven goal contributions — four goals and three assists — in April, guiding San Jose to a perfect 5-0-0 month with a plus-13 goal differential. Werner also became the first Earthquakes player to post at least one goal and one assist in three consecutive matches. Since joining from RB Leipzig in January, Werner has totaled four goals and five assists in 455 regular-season minutes, anchoring the Earthquakes' historic nine-win start through ten MLS games.
Sources: MLSSoccer.com
MLS Sweeps U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 for Second Straight Year
For the second straight year, all eight U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal berths belong to MLS clubs. San Jose Earthquakes and Atlanta United advanced Tuesday, followed by Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo, New York City FC, Orlando City and St. Louis CITY SC on Wednesday. NYCFC's Maxi Moralez delivered a hat trick of assists in a 3-1 Hudson River Derby win; Orlando rallied from two goals down in the final 20 minutes to eliminate New England 4-3. The quarterfinal draw aired Thursday on CBS Sports Golazo Network, setting May 19–20 matchups. Youth national team performances across the round provided encouraging signs ahead of this summer's World Cup.
Sources: U.S. Soccer, Soccer America
LAFC Holds Slim 2-1 Edge Over Toluca in Concacaf Champions Cup Semis
Marc Dos Santos described LAFC's 2-1 Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal first-leg victory over Toluca as a lesson in game management. Timothy Tillman's 51st-minute volley opened scoring before Jacob Shaffelburg had a goal disallowed on video review. Toluca's Jesus Angulo equalized with a vital road goal in the 73rd minute, before center back Nkosi Tafari headed home off a Son Heung-Min corner in the 91st minute to restore the lead. Dos Santos identified three defensive moments as decisive. LAFC hold a one-goal advantage ahead of the May 6 return leg at Estadio Nemesio Diez, where Toluca's away-goal parity gives the Liga MX side a narrow lifeline.
Sources: Soccer America, MLSSoccer.com
Portland Thorns 2-0 San Diego Wave: Thorns Claim NWSL Lead
Portland Thorns moved into first place in the NWSL standings with a 2-0 win over San Diego Wave at Providence Park on Tuesday. The result ended San Diego's four-match winning streak and displaced the Wave from the top spot they had held for several weeks. Portland have now won four of their last five, tightening a standings race with multiple clubs separated by points through seven matchdays. San Diego remain second and retain a strong playoff position. The Thorns, defending their 2025 NWSL championship, are proving the depth that made them title favorites entering the season, while the Wave will look to regroup ahead of a demanding May schedule.
Sources: Soccer America, ESPN
Nashville Falls 0-1 to Tigres in Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinal Opener
Nashville SC fell 0-1 to Tigres UANL at GEODIS Park in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal, with Angel Correa's 33rd-minute strike the only goal in a match delayed by inclement weather. Nashville's route to the final four had been historic: they eliminated Inter Miami in the Round of 16 and became the first MLS club ever to win at Estadio Azteca in dispatching Club America on aggregate. Head coach Gary Smith said Nashville must score in Mexico to advance, with Leg 2 at Estadio Universitario on May 5. The series winner meets LAFC or Toluca in the single-match CCC final on May 30.
Sources: MLSSoccer.com, theScore
NWSL Shelves Fall-Spring Calendar Switch Until at Least 2031
The NWSL board of governors has shelved a proposed switch to a fall-to-spring calendar, effectively delaying any change until at least 2031. The decision followed sustained opposition from the NWSL Players Association, which said a majority of players polled opposed the flip, citing inadequate cold-weather facilities across the league's 16 markets. Commissioner Jessica Berman had publicly signaled a calendar change was coming as recently as 2024. MLS is transitioning to fall-to-spring in coming seasons, and aligning the two leagues' calendars had been floated as a broadcast and fan advantage. The NWSL will continue on its March-through-November schedule, with the board committing to that structure through the 2030 season.
MLS Eastern Conference
Through Matchday 10
1. Nashville SC — 22 pts (6-2-4)
2. Inter Miami CF — 19 pts (6-3-2)
3. Chicago Fire — 17 pts (5-3-2)
4. New England Rev. — 17 pts (5-3-2)
5. Columbus Crew — 16 pts (4-2-4)
6. CF Montréal — 15 pts (4-3-3)
7. NY Red Bulls — 14 pts (4-4-2)
8. NYCFC — 13 pts (3-2-5)
9. Charlotte FC — 12 pts (3-4-3)
10. DC United — 11 pts (3-5-2)
11. Toronto FC — 10 pts (2-4-4)
12. Cincinnati — 9 pts (2-5-3)
13. Atlanta United — 7 pts (2-7-1)
14. Orlando City — 7 pts (2-7-1)
15. Philadelphia Union — 5 pts (1-7-2)
MLS Western Conference
Through Matchday 10
1. San Jose EQ — 27 pts (9-1-0)
2. Vancouver WC — 24 pts (7-1-2)
3. Seattle Sounders — 19 pts (6-1-1)*
4. LAFC — 18 pts (5-3-2)
5. Real Salt Lake — 16 pts (4-2-4)
6. Colorado Rapids — 15 pts (4-3-3)
7. Portland Timbers — 14 pts (4-4-2)
8. Minnesota United — 13 pts (3-3-4)
9. LA Galaxy — 12 pts (3-4-3)
10. Houston Dynamo — 11 pts (3-5-2)
11. FC Dallas — 10 pts (2-4-4)
12. Austin FC — 9 pts (2-5-3)
13. Sporting KC — 8 pts (2-6-2)
14. St. Louis CITY — 6 pts (1-6-3)
15. San Diego FC — 4 pts (1-8-1)
* fewer games played
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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